Futures rosters set, matchups await

Annual All-Star exhibition to feature 50 US, World prospects

In a handful of games each day, one elite pitching prospect will stare down one elite hitting prospect standing in the batter's box.

In one game on July 8, that is all that's going to happen.

MLB revealed Thursday the US Team and World Team rosters for the 14th All-Star Futures Game. The annual exhibition will begin at 5:00 p.m. EDT on the second Sunday in July, the first of three days of events at Royals ballpark Kauffman Stadium.

Twenty-seven of the 50 players participating were chosen in the Draft's first two rounds, including the top four picks in 2011: US Team hurlers Gerrit Cole (Pirates), Danny Hultzen (Mariners), Trevor Bauer (D-backs) and Dylan Bundy (Orioles). Other top '11 picks on the domestic lineup card include pitchers Matt Barnes (Red Sox) and Alex Meyer (Nationals) and infielder Kolten Wong (Cardinals).

A pair of 2012 Minor League leaders picked in the 2009 Draft will also showcase their skills: stolen base leader Billy Hamilton (Reds; second round) will play shortstop and home run leader Wil Myers (Royals; third round) will be in the outfield, the latter in his future home park.

The World Team, which has players from 11 countries, will be led by shortstop Jurickson Profar (Rangers), who is MLB.com's fourth-ranked prospect, and breakout slugger Oscar Taveras (Cardinals). Relievers Bruce Rondon (Tigers) and Lisalberto Bonilla (Phillies) will provide firepower out of the 'pen.

The rosters (below) were decided collaboratively by MLB, its clubs (each of the 30 is represented by at least one player), the MLB Scouting Bureau, MLB.com and Baseball America. Only players from full-season Minor League affiliates were eligible to be selected.